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Friday, July 29, 2011

Review : The City Mouse and The Country Mouse presented by the Magic Lantern Stage Company

Tonight, the Magic Lantern Stage Company helped me do something I didn't think was possible. It made me love my son more than I did this afternoon. You think you love your children as possible and then you have an experience that takes it up a notch. And, it helped me love Louisville a little bit more as well (and that's on top of a whole love of affection I've got for this city).

My son and I entered the Kentucky Center and found our way upstairs to the quaint theater for the opening night of "The City Mouse and The Country Mouse." It was an "in the round" type theater (except only 3/4 of the way around) and everyone felt like part of the play. The audience was full of people of all ages.

The show started and my son was captivated by the simple, yet colorful stage props and the three actresses that lit up this tiny stage. It was amazing how simple yet wonderful it was. This performance was absolutely perfect for young children and an excellent way to introduce theater to a child. The story was told so well with quick changes to keep everyone's attention, wonderfully catchy songs that had great rhymes and rhythm and three actresses that connected with the audience and brought this fable adaptation to life just a few feet in front of us.

It was an adorable story with a important life lesson about loving yourself for who you are and that you don't have to change, you should just be content with who you are and appreciate that everyone is different! They sang, variety is the spice of life! Towards the end, the country mouse sang a heart-felt song about being herself. At the endof that song, and I paraphrase, she sang "I just have to be....." and my son, during her short pause in the song, sat back in his chair and so sweetly sang "....meeeeee!" I leaned over and gave his a big kiss on his forehead (which he wiped off, of course). I was so filled with love and pride. This is why I am so grateful for this show, they gave me that moment that will forever be in my memory.

When the show was over, everyone stood in applause. The kids walked on the floor to take photos with the props and sit in the City Mouse's chair. It is such a family friendly show! Finally, I took my son to go over to say hi to the City Mouse actress and he got shy but another young boy who I think was about 6 walked right up to her and she leaned over. He talked quietly to her and I didn't hear the exact words but it went something like: I think friendship is about loving people and being nice to everyone. It was adorable! Expose your children to these cultural experiences in theater, arts, museums: they are listening and learning!

The Magic Lantern Theater Company still has tickets available for shows this weekend! Check out their website for details and take your family out! They also have other shows in the works for the winter.

1 comment:

Went to the noon show on Saturday, took my 8 and 10 year old, my 7 year old nephew and my 3 year old neice and they all loved it, it is hard to take the age range out and have them all like something, we than walked down to the science center for a visit since we are members. I didn't think we was going to get to go because my husband has been very ill, but we were given the tickets from Gilda's Club so I made it work and I am so glad I did.